Method of and means of producing cables



March 27, 1928. 1,664,231

M. THOMAS METHOD OF AND MEANS OF PRODUCING CABLES Filed A1122. 28. 1925WITNESSES: INVENTOR K Max 777 0/7765 Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX THOMAS, Ol BEBLIN-CHABLOTTENBURG, GERMANY, ASSIGNOB TO WESTING-HOUSE ELECTBIO & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

METHOD OF AND MEANS OF PRODUCING CABLES.

Application filed August 28, 1925, Serial No. 53,047, and in GermanyOctober 6, 1924.

My invention relates to apparatus for and a method of making strandedcable, more particularly cable composed of bare conductors ofrectangular cross-section, by twisting and rolling a plurality ofstrands to constitute a cable member of predetermined form.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a method of formingstranded cables of rectangular shape, in which the conductor members aremaintained in parallel relation to each other during and after theforming operation, in a simple and eilicient manner.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide means for guiding andfeeding conductor elements into a plurality of pressure rolls in suchmanner that they maintain a particular relation to the rolls and to eachother, respectively.

Heretofore, it has been customary to form cable of relatively heavyconductor materials by assembling a plurality of individual strands ofcircular cross-section and flattening them to rectangular shapes bypassing them between pressure rolls; but some of the difficultiesencountered in carrying out this process were conducive to considerablewaste and greatly increased the cost of manufacturing such cable. Forinstance, there were no adequate means provided for guiding theconductors while they were being twisted and rolled, which resulted in atensile stress that worked the conductor material beyond its elasticlimit, thereby causing a permanent setting of the material and leavingit hard and brittle.

My present invention is directed to means for obviating theseditliculties which comprises providing relative motion between theconductor members while they respectively pass through the guideelements into the rollers during the stranding operation. In thismanner, stressing of the conductors is entirely eliminated and they aremaintained in parallel relation during the rolling operation.

In the accompanying drawing, constituting a part hereof, the singlefigure is a diagrammatic view of apparatus for forming strandedconductor cables in accordance with the principles of my invention.

, In the drawing, the member 1 constitutes a removable core, on whichthe several conductors 2 are rolled into a rectangular shaped cable 3 tothus produce a hollow stranded cable after the core member 1 is removed.

The conductors2 are of rectangular crosssection and are passed throughindividual guides 4,which are carried by a support (not shown) that isadapted to be rotated about the axis of a gear-wheel 8, as indicated bythe large arrow. The guide members 4 are provided with openings of ashape similar to the form of the conductors 2 and said guides arerotatably mounted in their support. The support and guides 4 are inworking alinement with a plurality of pressure rolls 6 and 7 thatrespectively rotate in horizontal and vertical planes in such mannerthat the space or opening therebetween conforms to the desired shape ofthe finished cable 3. A chain 5 is disposed around the guide members 4and around the hub portion of a gear-wheel Q, which cooperates with thedriving gear-wheel 8 for the purpose of actuating the chain 5 to rotatethe guides 4 in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of themain guide support, as indicated by the respective arrows.

During the operation of this device, the rolls 6 and 7 draw theconductors 2 through their guides 4 and the guide support rotates in thedirection shown by the large arrow, to apply a twisting motion to theconductors 2. At the same time, the guides 4 are individually rotated inthe opposite direction,

as shown by the small arrows, and this action prevents a twisting strainin the individual conductors 2 and maintains them in parallel relationas they enter the rollers 6 and 7. The finished cable thus assumes therectangular form shown, after which the core 1 is'removed.

It is evident from the foregoing description of my invention that themethod of making cable, as described herein, utilizes a sim 1e andefiicient means of manufacturing cab e in a relatively inexpensivemanner, with the assurance of uniform and satisfactox results.

though I have described a specific embodiment of my invention, it willbe obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may bemade in the details of construction, and in the size and proportion ofthe several cooperating parts without departing from the principlesherein set forth. For instance, instead of utilizing the chain element 5for actuating the guides 4, the latter may be positively geared oractuated in any suitable manner to coordinate their .motion with therotative movement of their support.

I claim as my invention:

1. The method of making stranded cable which comprises passing aplurality of conductors through individual guides having openingscorresponding to the cross-section of said conductors, extending theends thereof through a plurality of pressure rolls, rotating said guidessimultaneously about an axis extending centrally of the space betweensaid rolls and rotating said guides individually oppositely to thedirection of rotation about said axis.

2. The method of making stranded cable of rectangular cross-sectionwhich comprises disposing a plurality of pressure rolls in spacedrelation and a plurality oi? guides in working alinement with saidrolls, placing a removable core member in the opening constituting theworking space between said rolls, passing a plurality of conductorsthrough said guides and the opening between said rolls to envelop saidcore member, and effecting relative motion of said rolls and guides toadvance said conductors parallel to each other.

3. The method of making stranded cable of rectangular cross-sectionwhich comprises disposing a plurality of pressure rolls in spacedrelation and a plurality of guides in working alinement with said rolls,placing a removable core member in the opening constituting the workingspace between said rolls, passing a plurality of conductors through saidguides and the opening between said rolls to envelop said core member,actuating said rolls to rotate the same in a direction to advance saidconductors away from said guides, revolving said guides to twist saidconductors about a common axis and rotating said guides in a directionopposed to their revolving motion to maintain a parallel relation of thesame, and removing said core member after the cable is formed.

4. In a cable forming machine the combination with a plurality ofpressure rolls of a plurality of individual guides having noncircularopenings in working alinement therewith, means for extending conductorsto be formed through said guides in parallel relation, means fortwisting said conductors relative to each other and means formaintaining said conductors in parallel relation during the twisting androlling operations.

5. In a cable forming machine the combination with a plurality ofpressure rolls of a. plurality of individual guides having noncircularopenings in working alinement therewith, means for revolving said guidesabout an axis extending centrally of said rolls and means cooperatingwith said revolving means for rotating said guides.

6. In a cable forming machine the combination with a plurality ofpressure rolls of a plurality of individual guides having noncircularopenings in working alinement therewith, means for revolving said guidesabout an axis extending centrally of said rolls and means cooperatingwith said revolving means for simultaneously rotating said guides.

7. In a machine for forming cables from conductors of non-circularcross-section, a plurality of individual wire guides having openingscorresponding to the cross-section of the conductor, means for revolvingsaid guides about a common axis and means for rotating the guides abouttheir own axes.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 31st dayof July,

MAX THOMAS.

